Into the Fire

Orphan X, also known as the Nowhere Man, finally freed himself from the government program that created him. Now he wants to take on one last mission before retiring for good.

In Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz, Orphan X gets a call for help from Max Merriweather. Max's cousin has been tortured and murdered but he has entrusted a secret to Max. Now some very dangerous individuals are after him. Evan Smoak, the Nowhere Man, steps in to help extricate Max from his predicament. But each time he takes out a threat against Max he finds that the conspiracy runs a little bit deeper. Can Orphan X stop who’s really pulling the strings or has he found a threat even he can't defeat?

Into The Fire is a russian nesting doll of a novel. Each threat show more against Max is a puzzle. First solve the puzzle to identify the threat, then design a way to eliminate the threat. This leads to a new threat and so on and so on until you reach the top. If only you can be certain it ends there.

There are a lot of great thriller series out there but I don't think any of them are written any better than the books by Hurwitz. His skill as a writer comes through on every page, particularly in his characters. Evan Smoak is as thoughtful and introspective as they come. The introduction of Max Merriweather is a perfect example of Hurwitz’s skill in quickly sketching out a character while making you feel you know him and empathize with him. Smoak’s interaction with his few associates as well as his own inner monologue creates great depth of character. The assistant DA Mia, his mentor’s last protege Joey, crotchety weapons makers, annoying fellow tenants and a heart-melting rescued dog all serve to shine a light on some aspect of Orphan X’s character. Each of the books in the Orphan X series can be read on their own, but taken together, you develop greater sympathy with the main characters and pick up new pieces of the puzzles that make up their lives.

On top of the excellent characters, Hurwitz excel's at creating outstanding action scenes that are both realistic and thrilling. The hurdles that Orphan X has to overcome require not only great physical skill but exceptional planning and creative thinking. The plotting is tight and exceptionally paced from beginning to end. Orphan X is one of my favorite characters and Hurwitz is at the top of his game in this novel. Highly recommended.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. show less

Max’s cousin has been murdered and for some very odd reason, he left Max a clue. Max is not known for doing the right thing. He is actually a messed up person who tends to screw everything up. So it is a real shocker when he leaves the Max information to find his killer. Max, as you would expect, ends up needing a lot of help. Enter Evan, or Orphan X!

Evan is a character which is an enigma. He has been trained by the government to be an assassin. But, he left the government program to, basically, do good. I just love this character. Not only is he tough as freaking nails, he has one of the biggest hearts you could ever imagine. He just wants to do what is right for the underdog! This story is no different. Max just can’t help but get show more himself in a mess. But when Evan shows up…you know it is going to turn out right…or is it. Evan finds himself…almost…over his head. His training and his abilities help keep him and Max alive through some very tough situations. Let me tell you….INTENSE SITUATIONS…is an understatement!

If you need a good, action packed, thriller series…THIS IS IT. I have been a fan since the first Orphan X book. All of the books are fast paced, full of intrigue, energy and emotions. Plus, all the characters in the books are relatable and touch you, as a reader, on some level. So get started today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. show less

Every time I read an Orphan X novel, I worry that Gregg Hurwitz knows a little too much about how to kill without getting caught.

In this latest Orphan X novel, our hero Evan Smoak embarks on what initially appears to be a straightforward and, for him, simple mission. But nothing is ever simple in Evan's world.

One of my favorite things about this series is that character depth is never sacrificed for action, and there is a whole lot of action. We get to know all the players involved. People here, as in real life, are not just good or bad, black or white, but instead inhabit all the various shades of gray.

Evan's personality really shines in this book. I loved the banter between him and Joey, whose character I'd love to see evolve into her show more own series.

As with most thrillers of this nature, at times the action feels a little over-the-top, and Evan appears bulletproof. This is forgiven, partly because it's expected in this genre and partly because Evan is such a cool hero. After all, look how long James Bond has survived.

While Into the Fire could be read as a stand-alone, I recommend starting at the beginning with Orphan X in order to get a full understanding of Evan's journey.

*I received a review copy through Amazon Vine.* show less

4.5 stars.

Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz is an adrenaline fueled thriller with pulse-pounding action and a skilled assassin turned vigilante. In this latest outing in the Orphan X series, former government black ops assassin Evan Smoak aka the Nowhere Man and Orphan X answers the phone and accepts what he plans to be his final case.

Max Merriweather has no idea what his murdered cousin Grant was involved in, but he wants to honor his last request. Quickly discovering that Grant is not the only victim, Max escapes undetected with what could possibly contain answers for his many questions. Fearing for his life, he has a fortuitous encounter that leads to the Nowhere Man. Examining the thumb drive Grant handed over to his cousin right show more before his death, Evan knows exactly why Grant was murdered. With the help of teenage hacker and friend, Joey Morales, they quickly discover the identity of the people who are hunting Max. But is there more to this tangled web of illegal activities than Smoak and Morales believe?

Evan is finally at the point where he believes he has atoned for his past. Although he does not have a clear vision of his future, he is ready to leave behind the Nowhere Man and live a normal life. Due to his past, he has few social skills so traversing his very involved homeowners' association is quite tricky. So are his attempts to navigate his awkward relationship with his neighbor D.A. Mia Hall and her son Peter.

Max is the failure of the Merriweather family and he is definitely persona non grata with his relatives. He has yet to recover from the failure of his marriage which only adds to his feelings of worthlessness. Despite the danger that awaits him around every corner, Max wants to honor his (reluctant) promise to Grant. But will he emerge from this quest unscathed?

Evan is self-confident he can eliminate the threat on Max's life and he methodically begins gathering information on his targets. With Joey's invaluable assistance, he zeroes in on the suspects and sets up reconnaissance. An unexpectedly dangerous encounter results in a concussion but Evan does not have time to stop for his recovery. Battling his head injury's extremely worrisome symptoms, the Nowhere Man is unstoppable as he methodically and ruthlessly sets out to vanquish Max's foes. Unfortunately, once one risk is removed, another takes its place. Has the Nowhere Man finally met his match? Or will he, Joey and Max completely uncover the labyrinth of corruption in time to prevent another deadly plot devised by the bad guys to evade detection and capture?

With non-stop action, unanticipated twists and exhilarating turns, Into the Fire is a riveting and suspenseful mystery. Evan is a complex character with a surprising need to make up for his past which weighs rather heavily on his conscience. Max is a sympathetic client whom Evan offers encouragement and suggestions to shore up his non-existent self-confidence. Despite Evan's encounters with numerous obstacles and deadly encounters, Gregg Hurwitz brings this electrifying thriller to a dramatic, hair-raising conclusion. This brilliant installment in the Orphan X series ends with a shocking phone call that will leave fans breathlessly anticipating the next adventure starring Evan Smoak. show less

Book source ~ Purchased at Audible

Evan Smoak is Orphan X. Or was. He left the program, but the program doesn’t want him gone. They want him eliminated. So far, they aren’t having any luck. Evan manages to stay a step ahead and come out on top.

His alter ego, The Nowhere Man, helps people who need his kind of expertise. For this book, it’s Max Merriweather. A fairly simple job, as jobs go, Evan takes care of the problem. Except he hasn’t. And Max is still in danger. The more Evan digs the worse it gets until he has to call in some friends to give him a hand.

I absolutely love these books. Like a speeding bullet, the action starts at the beginning and doesn’t let up until the end. Evan is my boyfriend now. That’s just the way show more it is. I don’t make the rules.

This story is an adrenaline laced rush of danger, mystery, and humor. I know when I pick up an Orphan X story I’m going for a wild nail-biting ride. One where the pages don’t turn fast enough. Good thing I’m listening to the audiobooks because I can always crank up the speed while listening. As long as Scott Brick doesn’t sound like a chipmunk I can go pretty fast. Speaking of Scott Brick, he is Orphan X. What an awesome performance! show less

Into the Fire by Gregg Horwitz is a 2020 Minotaur publication.

Supercharged action and adventure!

Evan Smoak- aka- Orphan X- aka- The Nowhere Man, has come to a crossroads of sorts. He’s ready to explore life on his own terms now. But will his enemies and those who need his specialized help allow him to retire?

In this fifth installment of the series, Evan is summoned to help Max Merriweather, who is on the run from the ruthless assassins who just murdered his cousin.

Hoping this is the last time he answers the 1-800-NOWHERE hotline, Evan discovers this case is going to be one of his most difficult to contain.

I love this series more with each installment. Evan is a machine- tough, smart, unstoppable! But, beneath that exterior is a show more lonely man, one who was robbed of normalcy, who pines for a break from all the danger and violence.

Readers root for him on both fronts. We cheer for him as he fights the bad guys, but also sympathize with his sensitive side too- wishing he didn’t have to necessarily choose between the two.

The addition of Joey to the series is simply perfect, and the banter between she and Ethan is often hysterically funny.

This chapter has a finality to it that is bittersweet- until…

The conclusion is a breathtaking stunner… promising more exciting adventures for our hero in the future.

4.5 stars show less

I read the first book and back than I thought it was fine but I was not that engaged with Evan. Yet, this time around it was solid gold. Evan is the next Jason Bourne. In fact, it is easy to see why an deal has been made to bring these books alive on the big screen.

Right from the beginning, I was hooked. My excitement did not waver or diminish. It stayed high until the very end. There were so many twists and people that Evan fought that I was exhausted reading about it. He may have been beaten and bruised but Evan never gave up until the job was done. Back to the twists for a moment. Nothing is as it seems in this story. Don't try to figure out anything. Just seat back, read, and enjoy this book.

No matter what he is called...Orphan show more X...The Nowhere Man...Evan; he is the guy you want fighting on your side and not against. Strap yourself into your seat for the most exciting, high intensity, roller coaster ride of your life with Into the Fire by Gregg Hurwitz! show less